Indefinite Jeevan Adhikar Yatra (March for the Right to Life) to begin

नर्मदा  घाटी  करे सवाल – जीने का हक या मौत का जाल’

Thousands of adivasis, farmers, fish workers, labourers, potters, artisans, small traders, representing the 2-lakh living population in the Narmada valley are to embark on an indefinite Jeevan Adhikar Yatra from Sunday morning (11 April 2010) to assert their right to life, livelihood and challenge the unjust and unlawful political push to the giant Sardar Sarovar Dam and other large projects on the Narmada, in gross violation of law and contempt of the Constitution and the Courts. Read more

Hundreds of adivasis from Badwani and Alirajpur districts in Madhya Pradesh and Nandurbar district in Maharashtra and Gujarat have already started their journey down the hills and shall travel by boats and trucks to reach Rajghat, on the banks of the Narmada. They shall be joined by hundreds others affected by the Sardar Sarovar, Jobat, Goi dams and Indira Sagar, Omkareshwar canals tomorrow morning where a mass Sankalp in stoic memory of Mahatma Gandhi would be taken, marking 25 years of peaceful, militant struggle of the nature-based communities in the valley.

Journalists, supporters and other concerned citizens from different parts of the country are also reaching the valley tomorrow morning. Taking their banners, slogans and demands, the people shall march ahead, holding meetings and proceed via Anjad town place, village Chota Barda, Manawar, Dharampuri, Dhamnod and Indore on the 13th morning, where the people would launch an indefinite sit-out before the Narmada Control Authority.

We look forward to your presence and participation through this most critical yet enlightened phase of the struggle, when the costs of the Dam have increased ten-fold while the benefits, now exposed, are only 10%. Let us together stop unjust displacement and environmental degradation and demand a complete & independent review of the Project, saving people, nature and the country’s resources.

In Solidarity,

Ashish Mandloi  Yogini Khanolkar  Geetanjali Chavan Medha Patkar

(08959287979)   (09423944390)   (09423965152)    (9423965153)

Indore Contacts:

Amulya Nidhi            Chinmay Mishra          Rakesh Chandore

(9425311547)            (9893278855)            (9425090415)

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Jeevan Adhikar Yatra – March for the Right to Life

Date    Yatra Details

10th April

(by evening)    Adivasis from Satpudas and Vindhya ranges to descend on the

Narmada bank at Rajghat in boats and trucks…to halt at the sacred relic of

Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturnba bai and Mahadevbhai

11th April 9:00 a.m. onwards: Gathering on the bank of the river and breakfast

9:30 a.m. SANKALP: Pledge-taking from the boats and in the river

10: 30 a.m. onwards: March beings

11:00 a.m.: Addressing the people of Badwani

11:30 am: Garlanding the memorial of adivasis martyrdom

Upto Evening: Short meetings at Village Borlai and Anjad and move towards

Chhota Barda (5 kms from Anjad)

Night halt at Chhota Barda (Tehsil Thikri, District Badwani)

9:00 pm: Dinner and Meeting on Narmada bank in Chhota Barda

12th April      4 a.m. onwards: Crossing the river in boats and dungis (canoes)

to village Semalda

6:30 – 7:00 a.m. : Beginning the day’s rally

8:00 a.m: Breakfast: Village Karoli

8: 30 a.m. to late afternoon: Vehicle rally to Manawar – Wakaner –

Dharamputi dotted by meetings

Evening: Dhamnod (Last public meeting and dinner)

Night: Moving in trucks to Rajendra Nagar

Night Halt at Umiya Mata Shiksha Sansthan, Indore

13th April Onwards      6:00 - 6:30 a.m: Prakriti-Prarthna

7:00 a.m: Breakfast

7:30 a.m: Narmada Rally resumes …

9:00 a.m.: Gathering at GPO Ground, Indore

10:00 a.m: Foot Soldiers of Narmada begin rally again …via MY-Regal-Malwa

Main–Payalipura-Vijaynagar route – with short meetings on the way towards

Narmada Control Authority…..

11:00 a.m: Trucks return back ….People Halt ….Indefinite Action before

Narmada Control Authority begins ….